DRINKING WATER

GettyImages-2207623248_450_300 Success Is The Break That Never Happened: How Embedded Acoustic Intelligence In Ultrasonic Meters Prevents Failure

Embedded acoustic sensing in ultrasonic meters enables continuous leak monitoring, helping utilities detect problems earlier, reduce water loss, and shift from reactive repairs to proactive infrastructure management.

DRINKING WATER CASE STUDIES AND WHITE PAPERS

  • Water You Waiting For? Analyze Multiple Water Samples Simultaneously With A New Field Device

    Whether it’s checking the health of a stream or a drinking water supply, water testing is performed in a variety of industrial, consumer, and applied research settings to measure water quality and chemistry. Understanding the quality of water (its features such as pH, salinity, or dissolved oxygen) and its chemistry (the presence of compounds like chlorine, ammonia, or nitrogen) is often accomplished with specialized, laboratory-based equipment and systems or field sampling methods.

  • External Or Internal Flow Meter Verification – An Independent Review

    To increase the reliability of field devices, some manufacturers equip instruments with internal verification functions based on integrated hardware components. Procedures for the internal testing of devices are not new to the market, but rather a standard feature – at least for MID (European Measuring Instrument Directive) devices. This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of advanced integrated verification functions for electromagnetic (MAG) flow meters with advanced integrated verification functions compared to external verification.

  • Unlocking The Flow: The Transformative Value Of Meter Data Management For Water Utilities

    MDM systems transform raw meter data into actionable intelligence, enhancing operational efficiency, driving proactive leak detection, improving billing accuracy, and supporting vital water conservation initiatives.

  • A Pandemic Of Another Kind: Addressing The Issues Of Clean Water Scarcity

    As the coronavirus pandemic in some form continues to move across the world, health professionals are continually reminding us to exercise good hygiene and keep our hands clean. Easy enough, if you have access to a clean source of water. However, according to the USA Water Alliance, there are more than three million people presently that are without a dependable source of safe drinking water in the US. Around the world, this is also a bigger issue, as many people lack access to a source of safe drinking water to maintain their hygiene. Ongoing developments to ensure global water security, as well as provisions for wastewater sanitation services to avoid polluting water sources have been slowly adopted. Droughts and water scarcity have become issues that we are dealing with in the US and around the world.

  • Maximize Efficiency With Turnkey Metering Packages

    Read about pre-assembled chemical metering skid systems, a reliable and cost-effective solution for water and wastewater treatment. 

  • HeadCell Eliminates Chandler, AZ's Punishing Grit Problem

    Rapid population growth created the need for a plant initially designed for 5 MGD to expand four times over two decades to treat 27 MGD today. With no grit removal the plant struggled with grit since start-up, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on contractors to remove accumulated grit every 2-3 years. The plant wanted to eliminate their grit problems once and for all. Tired of wasting money, time, and effort on this futile but necessary task, the plant hired Wilson Engineers to evaluate various grit removal technologies to determine which type of system would be capable of eliminating their grit problem.

  • Texas Has Confirmed Kemio Is An Approved Method For Water Quality Testing

    This is great news for water quality testing. Kemio provides laboratory results, whether in the lab or in the field, allowing the operator to swiftly address water issues. With the multitude of municipalities and laboratories in Texas, this is a huge win for Water Quality Testing!

  • When Inches Count: Flow Metering In Constrained Spaces

    From offshore oil platforms that come with a hefty cost for every square foot to college campuses that rely on steam plants in cramped basements, flow metering is critical to many operations where space comes at a premium. The problem is that most flow metering technologies conflict with space limitations because of their substantial straight pipe run requirements. The good news is there is an alternative.

  • The Beauty Of Water

    Can water be aesthetic? Absolutely! At any rate, the German-Swiss family business Neoperl ensures that it flows in a highly aesthetic way. Neoperl products shape the water stream, regulate the flow rate and protect water from contamination.

  • Utility Removes Burdensome Bulk Sodium Hypochlorite From Operations

    Historically, Lyon County Utilities, Nevada, applied 12.5% bulk sodium hypochlorite for disinfection at each of their well sites. Always looking to improve system efficiency, Lyon County staff reexamined on‐site hypochlorite generation to determine if the use of the 0.8% sodium hypochlorite solution could mitigate the challenges associated with dosing high strength sodium hypochlorite.

DRINKING WATER APPLICATION NOTES

  • What Is Genclean Advanced Oxidation Disinfection Solution And What Is It Used For?
    2/18/2021

    A non-toxic, advanced oxidation (AOP) formula of minerals chelated with oxygen and stabilized in an aqueous water solution. It is a viable option in industries and applications requiring a solution to challenging situations where high level effective sanitization and oxidation is required. Read more to learn how the Genclean advanced oxidation treatment solutions can be used in different applications.

  • Real-Time Water Quality Data For Agriculture
    9/23/2020

    We arm farmers with mission-critical water data to help enhance crop yield and taste. KETOS delivers valuable insights for fluctuations in deficiency and toxicity.

  • Hydrogen Sulfide Removal From Water Using AquaSorb® CX-MCA
    2/19/2014

    The “rotten egg” odor in some water supplies is caused by sulfide in water. Sulfide can be treated using oxidation techniques, the goal being to convert the sulfide to high oxidation state species such as sulfate to eliminate the taste and odor concerns. Traditional oxidation techniques such as ozone and chlorine can be used, but can be expensive due to the equipment required to add and monitor the oxidant, and can lead to by-products such as trihalomethanes (THMs), which are regulated in drinking water supplies.

  • How To Install A Submersible Pump In Discharge Tubes
    11/28/2012

    In the fields of water and waste water technology, submersible pumps represent a viable economic and technical alternative to conventional, dry-installed pumps. In particular, they offer a number of handling advantages during maintenance and installation work.

  • Determination Of Polar Pesticide Residues In Food Of Plant Origin, By And Automate QuPPe Solution
    9/29/2014

    The QuEChERS (Quick-Easy-Cheap-Effective-Rugged-Safe) sample extraction method was developed for the determination of pesticide residues in agricultural commodities.

  • Hemodialysis Patient Health
    10/29/2021

    Controlling dialysate quality is critically important to hemodialysis patient health. Complications as minor as nausea and fatigue or as severe as metabolic acidosis and sepsis can result if dialysate composition is incorrect. All the factors that ultimately affect dialysate composition must therefore be carefully monitored and controlled: proper proportioning and mixing of concentrates with water; the quality of water mixed with concentrates to form dialysate; and the quality of water used in the reprocessing of hemodialyzers, system maintenance and disinfection.

  • LC-MS/MS Analysis Of PFAS Extractables In Polyethersulfone Syringe Filters Using EPA 537.1
    5/18/2022

    A key consideration for any PFAS method is to avoid contamination that can impact the accuracy of data, including those coming from sample preparation techniques such as filtration.

  • Removal Of PFCs With Activated Carbon
    12/30/2013

    In recent years, various perflorinated chemicals (PFCs) have come under increasing scrutiny due to their presence in the environment, in animals, and in human blood samples. There are two major classes of PFCs: perfluoroalkyl sulfonates such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and long chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylates such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).

  • The Basics: ORP and Free Chlorine Monitoring
    5/13/2014

    Oxidation Reduction Potential or Redox is the activity or strength of oxidizers and reducers in relation to their concentration. Oxidizers accept electrons, reducers lose electrons. Examples of oxidizers are: chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, bromine, ozone, and chlorine dioxide. Examples of reducers are sodium sulfite, sodium bisulfate and hydrogen sulfide. Like acidity and alkalinity, the increase of one is at the expense of the other.

  • Panametrics Technology Helps Track Potable Water Leaks
    4/22/2022

    Concerned about the volume of water leakages throughout their network, a Swedish water authority turned to Panametrics flowmeters to map their municipal water network -- enabling quick leak identification and fixes.

DRINKING WATER PRODUCTS

Aries Pro 3612 Series are WQA Gold Seal certified point-of-use filters engineered for residential PFAS removal — delivering clean, safe drinking water where it matters most.

CHEM-FEED® Engineered Skid Systems are now shipping! These Skid Systems are simple to operate, easy to order, and includes everything needed for precise chemical feed.

The Low-Waste Nitrate Removal System is a complete treatment system which utilizes specialized Rinse Reclaim and Active Blending Systems. 

The Automatic Switchover system Series 1041 provides safe, reliable switching between two gas (pressure or vacuum) or two liquid (pressure or level) sources assuring an uninterrupted supply of chemical to the application. Automation of all functions (switchover, system initialization, configuration, lamp test, and safety functions) is done with an internal programmable logic controller for operational flexibility, enhanced reliability, and ease of use. If needed, local manual override is conveniently available for operator control to maintain continuous operation.

Rapid-response ion exchange systems provide short-term treatment for PFAS and other contaminants immediately, keeping communities safe and operations uninterrupted.

The Capital Controls Series 480 all-vacuum gas feeder is designed for direct mounting to a 150 pound gas cylinder or ton container. It is a basic alternative for those applications requiring a chlorine feed rate of 250 PPD (5 kg/h) or less. 

LATEST INSIGHTS ON DRINKING WATER

DRINKING WATER VIDEOS

IPR'S CIPP liner system for gravity-flow sewers and culverts is the most proven, cost-effective trenchless pipeline rehabilitation system in the industry. It is also the most widely specified form of trenchless pipeline rehabilitation.

O’Brien, Texas is just one of thousands of small communities in the United States that struggle to find the resources to ensure that the water coming out of the tap is safe to drink. The recent budget proposal by the Trump administration will only make matters worse. Watch this documentary short produced by Tom Rosenberg and Earth Institute fellow Madison Condon details one shrinking town’s drinking water crisis.

As utilities worldwide face mounting pressure from drought, water scarcity, and tightening regulations, this webinar explores how validated, chemical-free UV solutions are reshaping disinfection across surface water, wastewater, desalination, and potable reuse.

Across North America, streams and rivers are becoming saltier, thanks to road deicers, fertilizers and other salty compounds that humans indirectly release into waterways. At the same time, freshwater supplies are becoming more alkaline.

Discover how specialized restrained joints facilitate efficient horizontal directional drilling and bridge piping through a simplified, tool-free assembly process that ensures long-term reliability.

ABOUT DRINKING WATER

In most developed countries, drinking water is regulated to ensure that it meets drinking water quality standards. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers these standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA)

Drinking water considerations can be divided into three core areas of concern:

  1. Source water for a community’s drinking water supply
  2. Drinking water treatment of source water
  3. Distribution of treated drinking water to consumers

Drinking Water Sources

Source water access is imperative to human survival. Sources may include groundwater from aquifers, surface water from rivers and streams and seawater through a desalination process. Direct or indirect water reuse is also growing in popularity in communities with limited access to sources of traditional surface or groundwater. 

Source water scarcity is a growing concern as populations grow and move to warmer, less aqueous climates; climatic changes take place and industrial and agricultural processes compete with the public’s need for water. The scarcity of water supply and water conservation are major focuses of the American Water Works Association.

Drinking Water Treatment

Drinking Water Treatment involves the removal of pathogens and other contaminants from source water in order to make it safe for humans to consume. Treatment of public drinking water is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. Common examples of contaminants that need to be treated and removed from water before it is considered potable are microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and radionuclides.

There are a variety of technologies and processes that can be used for contaminant removal and the removal of pathogens to decontaminate or treat water in a drinking water treatment plant before the clean water is pumped into the water distribution system for consumption.

The first stage in treating drinking water is often called pretreatment and involves screens to remove large debris and objects from the water supply. Aeration can also be used in the pretreatment phase. By mixing air and water, unwanted gases and minerals are removed and the water improves in color, taste and odor.

The second stage in the drinking water treatment process involves coagulation and flocculation. A coagulating agent is added to the water which causes suspended particles to stick together into clumps of material called floc. In sedimentation basins, the heavier floc separates from the water supply and sinks to form sludge, allowing the less turbid water to continue through the process.

During the filtration stage, smaller particles not removed by flocculation are removed from the treated water by running the water through a series of filters. Filter media can include sand, granulated carbon or manufactured membranes. Filtration using reverse osmosis membranes is a critical component of removing salt particles where desalination is being used to treat brackish water or seawater into drinking water.

Following filtration, the water is disinfected to kill or disable any microbes or viruses that could make the consumer sick. The most traditional disinfection method for treating drinking water uses chlorine or chloramines. However, new drinking water disinfection methods are constantly coming to market. Two disinfection methods that have been gaining traction use ozone and ultra-violet (UV) light to disinfect the water supply.

Drinking Water Distribution

Drinking water distribution involves the management of flow of the treated water to the consumer. By some estimates, up to 30% of treated water fails to reach the consumer. This water, often called non-revenue water, escapes from the distribution system through leaks in pipelines and joints, and in extreme cases through water main breaks.

A public water authority manages drinking water distribution through a network of pipes, pumps and valves and monitors that flow using flow, level and pressure measurement sensors and equipment.

Water meters and metering systems such as automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) allows a water utility to assess a consumer’s water use and charge them for the correct amount of water they have consumed.